Measuring instrument.



S. C. MAcDOWNEY.

MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.I4,19I8.

2 swans-4mm 1.'

L i JO-FZ Z0 9 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

S. C. MAcDOWNEY.

MEASURING INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. I918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- un: now: runs an. Pnnmumo. WASHINGTON n. c.

SILAS c. MAGDOWNEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

T0 all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAs C. MACDOWNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measuring Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention concerns measuring instruments and relates more specifically to a graduated appliance of this character adapted to measure angles and also to be used as a graduated pair of calipers, and in addition providing a straight scale or rule marked off in suitable units, such as inches and fractions thereof, A salient feature of the improved device resides in forming it of two members or bars hinged or pivoted together near one end, thus providing two long arms for measuring angles and two shorter arms for use as a pair of calipers, although, of course, this arrangement might in some instances be reversed to advantage.

Another feature of the invention. is the use of one of the caliper fingers as an index cooperating with a suitable scale to show the angle assumed by the arms when. employed for determining an unknown angle or to indicate a definite angle when the angle meter is to housed in that way. f

In order that those skilled in* this art may have a full andcomplete understanding of this invention and its various advantages, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments, and throughout the various views of these drawings, like. reference characters refer to the same parts.

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is a face view of the appliance in straightened'condition to be used as a scale;

' Fig. 2 shows the apparatus as'employed for measuring angles V Fig. 3 illustrates the manner of using the appliance as a pair of calipers;

Fig. 4 shows a modified construction inclosed or folded relation;

Fig. 5 is an edge v1ew ofsuch device,

Fig. 6 shows the appliance opened for use as a pair of calipers; and

Fig. 7 illustrates the same appliance used as an an le meter.

Referring first to the appliance of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, it will be observed that the device includes two flat bars or members 10 and 11 fulcrumed or pivoted together at Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 8, 1919. Application filed February 14, 1918. Serial No. 217,136. I I

12, the pivot pin having a winged clamp nut 13 adapted to hold thetwo members in any determined angular relation. These two members may be brought into the straight position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon their two registering graduated edges 1 1 and 15 may be employed as an ordinary scale or rule. In other words, these two edges form a straight line or edge and the members may be locked or held in this relation by tightening the hand-nut 13. Such edges are graduated in suitable units, such as inches, and the scale on each forms a continuation or extension of the scale on the other; In this way, the grad'uations 0f the two supplement one another, forming a combination scale or rule suitably graduated from end to end.

At itsinneror hinged end the scale member 14 has an. enlargement 16 of general semi-circular form, but recessed at 17 to provide a terminal or end caliper finger 18. On its curved or semi-circular edge 19, such enlargement is graduated in angles at 20.

The corresponding inner edge of the companion bar 11 is similarly shaped at 21, being recessed at 22 and 23 leaving a thin end caliper finger 21 adapted, when the appliance is used as an angle meter, to ride over and cooperate with the angle scale gradua tions 20. As is clearly illustrated, the semicircular edge of part 21' is partiallygradw ated at 25 in suitable units, such as inches and fractions thereof, the reading on this scale being determined by the longitudinal line 26 on member 10, and conveniently, but not necessarily, constituting a portion of the scale thereon.

When the instrument is to be used as an angle meter, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the

angle between the adjacent edges 141 and 15 of the scale members 10 and 11 may be determined by ascertaining the reading on the angle scale 20 indicated by the index 24, which, of course, under other conditions, constitutes one of the caliper elements. By opening or closing the members 10 and 11, that is, modifying their angular relation,

until adesired angle is indicated on the yet adjacent relation, that-theymay'beused as a pair of calipers, their distance. apartbe: ing read on scale 25 by means of'the index line 26. If required, this caliper may be set forany amount andheldin such relationby tightening nut 13.

If desired, the more prominent and more used. angles of; scale 2.0.,such as 45. 90, ,and- 135, ,may. beprovided with radialzlines 20, and such angles read; thereon: by, the. edge 22%,, these elements supplementing scale;- 20 and index; finger 24 for: quick setting; o;E the appliance for these,- angles,, without having recourse to the more; or; lessfinely-graduated angle-scale 20...

The instrumentof- Eigs 4 to? inclusive, isgof the same general: type as ,that.of;..Figs...1' to 3 i inclusive, differing therefrom; in. m nor. details only asfollowsz:

The-two. -graduated,- scale. members; and 31 arepivotall ,1 secured together-by an eye.- let, 32twith s cientiriction tohold. them from unintentionaldisplacement, and. at one end these. parts are cutaway to provide .the cooperatingcaliper fingers 33'and 3 4.-.. The

, curved edge: pontionof ban 3.0.has an. angle scale with; which, thecaliper finger; 34 Too..- acts as; an. indexor pointer, and inside of this scale is aninch on similan scale.36.-with which a projecting, index finger: '31. cooper ates to: show the extent of opening. of; the caliper fingers. If: desired the; member 31, may be.- provided: With; a: perforation. on hole 38 'therethrough, through, which certainrspe cific, well known and frequently usedan-gles displayedonqmember 8.0 may beread-l When in register; therewith. T.o, assist. in thisluse ofi'theinstrument, member 31 may havean index, line 4:0;T01"GOHV li XtfiSSOGlZLblOD with the :radial lines extendingthrough the angle notations. 39.

Inasmuch as theus'e and operation of this device isv practically: thesameasqthat. of the other, no detailed description thereof-isrrer quired:

This inventionhis not. restricted. and; lime turesf presented, because-these may be varied within comparatively wide.- limlts: without departure from the substanceaandressenceof I the invention. and without the sacrifice of any of. its: substantial; benefits. andadvan:

tages. y

1. In an instrument of the-,characterrdescribed, the combinations of. two members only pivoted together near one end andconstructed, and. adapted; when crossed and opened one way toforma pair ofcalipers with. a suitable linearv scalato indicate. the distanceebetween; the cali er. jaws-and When reversely crossed and. opened to; constitute a; protractor with, an angle scale with. which oneej aw of the calipers, coactsj to indicate the angular relation of the. parts of theprotractor hoth-scales being-onlthe same. side of theinstrument, .the space between. said members whenadjusted asearprotractor uptoone hundred and eighty. degrees. being. unobstructed up to, the apex otthe. angle.,. substantiallyas. described; I

2;. Inv an instrument ofi thecharacter, de-

angular relation of the parts of the protractor, both scales being on;tl1e, same side of the. instrument, the. spacebetween. said members. when. adjusted: as. a protractor. up. toonerhundred,andeeighty'degrees.being unobstructed up to the apex,oflthe;angle,.subs stantially as describedfi sees-1e. Mionownn Copies ,oL-this. patent {may be. obtained" for five, cents each, ,by. addressing; the. Commissioner. of; Patents,

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